Kazuhiro Kokubo miles out. Photos: Shem Roose
First off, Shaun White did not compete in the 28th US Open Halfpipe today. Crazy, we know. There were varying reports. Snowboard Canada tweeted that “he was exhausted.” And we’re not going to argue. We’re exhausted just from watching the grueling media marathon Shaun has been on since winning his second Olympic gold medal, and we did it all from the couch.
While it would have been nice if he had taken a little rest a week ago so we could have watched him ride Stratton, whatever Shaun wants to do now is fine with us. Go, to it. Write a book. Read some poetry. Snowboarding will still be here when you get back.
Secondly, three runs in a halfpipe final is silly. Two runs is enough to sort out the champions. As usual, there were really no significant place changes in that third run. Kelly Clark nailed her 94.7 in the first run and Kazuhiro Kokubo got his 97.17 in the second run when he stole the lead away from Louie Vito.
We often feel that something is lost in translation, but Kazu is always a gracious winner. “It was so great to win here, especially because my good friends Mikkel Bang and Charles Reid also won titles, which made my win feel even better,” said Kazuhiro Kokubo.
Kelly Clark has won the Open so many times her quotes are nearly canned. ““It’s amazing that it’s my fourth US Open halfpipe title,” said Kelly Clark. “It’s so great to come home after such a long season and win here.”
For the rest of the story, including results, follow the jump.
Kazuhiro Kokubo & Kelly Clark Win 2010 Burton US Open Halfpipe Titles
Stratton Mountain, VT (March 20, 2010) Kazuhiro Kokubo (JPN) and Kelly Clark (USA) won today’s US Open halfpipe finals, where thousands of fans enjoyed some of the most progressive riding in halfpipe history. Today’s win marked a historic moment for Kelly Clark, who is now the only woman in US Open history to win four halfpipe titles. Kazu’s win was also a landmark as it was his first time winning a US Open title.
“It was so great to win here, especially because my good friends Mikkel Bang and Charles Reid also won titles, which made my win feel even better,” said Kazuhiro Kokubo.
In addition to the coveted US Open halfpipe crowns, three major titles were also awarded today, including a new Volvo to top US Open male and female overall riders Ulrik Badertscher (NOR) and Jamie Anderson (USA). Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) was on the podium for three different awards, taking home a total of $103,250 in winnings today alone. He won the $3000 Kodak Best Trick award for his Cab 1080 double cork, the $50,000 men’s Burton Global Open Series (BGOS) title, the $50,000 men’s Swatch TTR World Tour Championship title, plus $250 for his 12th place halfpipe finish. Fellow Finnish rider Enni Rukajärvi (FIN) won the women’s 2010 BGOS championship title and a $50,000 check. And for the first time, second and third place BGOS ranked riders took home $30,000 and $20,000 respectively.
“This is so special and overwhelming – I’m the first guy who has won both the BGOS and TTR titles twice,” said 2010 Olympic silver medalist Peetu Piiroinen. “I’ve had an incredible season.”
The women’s halfpipe contest was dominated by the Americans, who swept the podium. Kelly Clark secured her fourth US Open halfpipe title with her first run, earning an unbeatable 94.17 with her signature style and huge airs. Her run started with a huge frontside air, a backside 540 mute grab, a frontside 720, and a Cab 720 mute, finishing with a frontside corked 900, which also earned her the $3,000 Totino’s Highest Air Award. Coming in second place was Kaitlyn Farrington (USA) with a strong run that included back-to-back 720s. Ellery Hollingsworth (USA) rounded out the women’s halfpipe podium with her third place finish and also earned the Kodak Best Trick for her Michalchuk.
“It’s amazing that it’s my fourth US Open halfpipe title,” said Kelly Clark. “It’s so great to come home after such a long season and win here.”
Double corks were the trick of the day in the men’s halfpipe competition, with podium winners throwing down double corks in every run. First Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI) stepped it up with a mind-blowing run that included a backside 1260 double cork in the middle of his run. Then Louie Vito (USA) topped Iouri by nailing three double corks in his first run, taking the lead by a mere fraction of a point. But it was Kazuhiro Kokubo’s signature smooth style that put him on the top spot of the US Open halfpipe podium for the first time, with a run that included a frontside 900 melon, his crowd-favorite McTwist Chicken Wing trick followed by three 1080s. 2010 Olympic bronze medalist Scotty Lago (USA) won the Totino’s Highest Air award.
Tomorrow, the juniors take to the adult-sized halfpipe where boys and girls 13-years-old and under will compete in the US Open Junior Jam.
RANK COMPETITOR NATION
1 Kelly Clark USA
2 Kaitlyn Farrington USA
3 Ellery Hollingsworth USA
4 Hannah Teter USA
5 Rana Okada JPN
6 Elena Hight USA
7 Kelly Marren USA
8 Madeline Schaffrick USA
RANK COMPETITOR RUN 1 RUN 2 RUN 3
1 Kokubo Kazuhiro 95.33 97.17 79
2 Vito Louie 96.17 86.5 94.33
3 Podladtchikov Iouri 96 94.67 40.33
4 Malin Markus 93.83 62.33 50.33
5 Korpi Janne 91.83 43.17 43.67
6 Lago Scotty 90.17 13.17 29.33
7 Holvik Tore 86.17 40.17 38.67
8 Haller Christian 68.83 28.17 76.33
9 Pietropoli Manuel 75.17 34.83 66.5
10 Baker Ross 49.17 36.5 72.67
11 Esser Brett 69.33 20.5 19.67
12 Piiroinen Peetu 47.33 68.33 66.17
13 Watts Ben 22.33 61.17 40
14 Mitrani Luke 14.5 57.17 31
15 Pike Scotty 33.33 55.67 20
16 Ladley Matt 24.67 22.67 55.5
Louie Vito was robbed and should have won.. 3 dubs and a front 12. When will Grossi figure out that he will still likely have his job even if a burton rider doesn’t win????
Thank God Vito didn’t win, lots of spinning but not one trick with style. Good job that the judges still look at the whole thing, not just the rotated degrees. Ipod should’ve been 2nd.
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